Rocky Start...but none the less the first 27 seconds....

Even though it took me two weeks to really get here... here is is....I have been running into a lot of editing problems.  Also, did not realize that some of my shots were out of focus ( I think my aperture is too wide to  be honest...) so I am going to have to reshoot the biting into the apple scene.  This time I will take more care in taking test shots and viewing them on a larger screen.  Although it has been a rocky start, I have learned so much, and I am glad I am running into these problems now as opposed to later.  I hope by next Monday I can have the Apple Tree(s) scenes completely finished and maybe start to think about sound.  Also need to think about slowing down some of the animation, but still, some of the animation (especially the branch after the apple pull turned out pretty well).

Senior Studio: Take Two!...Senior Thesis:Week One

So I know it seems like I fell off the face of the Earth..but I am here now, with more fuel then ever to get to work!  I ended last semester creating a story board/animatic of an original narrative that I am going to animate this semester for my Senior Thesis. You can check it out HERE. 

I have EIGHT weeks to complete this, so I have to kick it into high gear.  For this week, I will be researching different ways to do construction paper animation.  I will also be creating an X-Sheet (hopefully) and reference videos for the animation.

For now, I am tyring to decide on what style/way I want to animate.

Option One: I can shoot down on the  multi pane I built last semester.  Check out Etude for an example! I have more experience in this.

Option Two: I could make a 3D set and have 2D characters.  Check out Cellegratonia for an example! The bonus of this is I could have the entire animation in one long shot which would be pretty awesome...

I just have to make sure what ever option I choose, I will be able to capture the essence of my hand drawing style from the story board animation I created at the end of last semester......

EIGHT WEEKS... (deep breath)...and go...

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 Until next time.. here is a treat...

Some more cool things: Holloween Style

So first of all, after having my mid term review, I was advised to just make beautiful and vibrant and interesting things... so maybe not get so practical with the motion graphic stuff.  So I think I am going to go back to doing the multiplane/retelling a story thing but not get stuck in this stylistic box.  Also, I am thinking of doing a story in honor of Halloween...so maybe do like The Legend of Sleepy Hollow...or something with the Headless Horseman... or maybe the Goose Girl from the Grimm's Fairy Tales.... In any case... here is something awesome I found while watching random things: Click HERE to enjoy.

Fall 2011: Post Midterm Crit

So, after midterm crit, after evaluating where I want to go next-what themes I want to work with, but also, thinking about what can I create so that I can have the skill sets I need to get the job that I want I've come to this:

I think I am going to work on creating something similar to a title sequence so I can work on my motion graphics, however, instead of it being a title sequence, it will tell a quick story-a short story retold to be exact.  I will also use text as a way to tell the story (as opposed to stating names of actors, directors, etc.).

Some inspiration I have come acrossed are as follows:

Once Upon a Time, When There Was Nothing Good on T.V. ...

Well, here it is.  I think it is a step up from the last one, I hope you think so too.  Enjoy!

[Apple]

Here's my animation from last week, check it out:

As for the next (and probably final animation before Midterms), I am going to continue with the Apple and probably recreate Snow White in 30 seconds, with the biting of the apple being the central focus/climax.  I hope to do this using my multipane construction that I built a few weeks ago.  So I need to story board, buy textured paper, and figure out how I am going to mount my camera....One more week to go before Midterm Crit - Gotta get going!

Bianca Ansems

Another amazing animator that uses the multi-pannel technique, Bianca Ansems.  Check it out!

Especially pay attention to the London International Animation Festival trailer. Enjoy!

Awesome Dexter Opening Sequence (Fan Made)

Just something I found while I was poking around the internet:

And here is the original:

(side note: created by Digital Kitchen-a design agency I would LOVE to work for!)

Multipane construction!

So this is what I've been building in my studio!  This will help me create paper animations similar to the ones shown below (Etude).  I also show an example of how these physical layers can be combined into one image.  Enjoy!

Multipane Construction

Composite

Above image separated into layers

Paint

Just finished another of my "Animate Objects" series.  When creating this I kind of set a challenge for myself.  On Monday, I brought my camera in (and of course forgot my cords to connect it to my laptop, so I had to animate blindly) and knew I was going to animate something, but did not have a preset idea before I got to studio.  The animation was thus created during my studio time, and the illustration animations were done afterwards.  Here is the final take:

Just some cool things to look at...

Here are some cool things I have stumbled upon tonight:

But the coolest part is watching the making of this HERE.  There is some really great technical tips!

I found this on Motiongrapher.com's website .  Check it out.  Such a great resource!

Some more awesome animations (inspiration maybe?)

 

(brownie points to Jon Yee who told me about this)

Ania Leszczynska

So I was surfing the Dragon Stop Motion site-checking out the new projects posted and came acrossed this talented animator: Ania Leszczynska.  Here is an example of her recent work, Etude...the awesome thing is when I watched the making of how this was created, she had the SAME set up I did with my paper animations :-).  I want to go back to this, though I don't know when-I don't know how long I should stick with the objects project-maybe just till the midterm and then the second half of the semester I will pick this paper animation back up....maybe I'll do a remake of my "Remember When" animation from like five years ago....

In the meantime I am editing another Animate Object...I hope to have that up in the next few days, so look out for that... until then...

[LOST OBJECT]: Marble Bag

New Animation!!! Check it out!

Animate Objects!

Sorry it has been a while since I last posted....in any case, here was the final animations for the 7 Project Assignment:

At first I decided to do these quick animations revolving around objects as a way to quickly get back into animating-however, I enjoyed this process so much that I decided to continue with this at least for Midterm.  I am going to stick to animating objects as a way to let the viewer see "the hidden life of objects."  My goal is to try and create two a week and create an electronic newsletter that I can send out bi-weekly to let interested people keep updated with my shorts.  Also, after talking with Melissa Pokorny (one of my studio TA's), she directed me to two books: The Tears of Things, and The Object Reader.  She also suggested using these resources along with other books/internet to research different philosophies around objects: how some cultures believe objects have souls, that there are good and evil objects, etc. This past week I have been doing a lot of research and trying to cut away at some of the dense readings in The Object Reader.  Now I need to start animating.  I'll post as I create... until then...

[Edit]

I forgot to add a few interesting links from my research:
HERE is a video of "The Secret Life of Things" which is related to sustainability which could be intersteing
HERE is a link about this TV show called "Wonderfalls" where objects come to life but only the main character can see-lots of symbolism/etc.
HERE is some insight on "animism"-the belief that objects have souls

7 Days, 7 Projects-GO!

We received our first project on Monday-"You have seven days, create seven pieces, go!".

I've decided to create short storyboards/animations that involved everyday inanimate objects, and bringing them to life.  Some inspiration for this direction is the "Bent Objects" series by Terry Border.  You can check out some of his stuff here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgDynGCzpjg
OR...

However, I am more focused on sound and what the objects might say; what their onomatopoeia would be if they could make sound and how to create a narrative around that.  I started off by creating three story boards with the goal of animating these three story boards in the next three days;  Then for the seventh project I will compile the projects into a website and/or flash project of sorts-what that will look like I am still unsure...but for now:

I'm already starting off to a strong start [I hope]-this year will be crazy- got to appreciate every moment of this because when we get out into the real world, the space, community, time, won't be the same.

Three days until the assignment is due and four projects left-GO!  Until Monday...

Senior Studio: And it Begins

Here is a start to a new year- new studio space, new projects, same community-and I love it.  We shall see what is to come.

New Slate: Sustainability!

So, after having my freak out, I realized that I needed more out of my work-I want my work to be able to change the world (as cliche as that sounds).  I feel like I need to have more satisfaction out of my work-thus, I have decided to focus my work on Sustainability and Green Design here on Campus.  Here are some preliminary links/research into some issues that could be explored:

Green Roof in Chicago:

Windmills in Illinois HERE

Colleges and their source of energy:  Has U of I and how much CO2 they submit into the air, etc.  Great Link

Office of Sustainability at U of I

MTD going GREEN!

Breakdown of Energy on Campus 

Students for Environmental Concerns (SECs)


THE STORY OF STUFF:

[End of First Half of the Semester] It's Been a While......

Yes, yes yes... I know kids... I've been falling behind here.  Honestly, it is because towards the end here, I've been hating my work.  I finally finished the Inception/Penrose series, but had a hard time finishing it because I kept asking myself: "Who the 'H' care?!"  So I am kind of happy to be done with that and now I can work with a new slate!  But here is that project anyways:

Note: I'll have to post it later-it's on my external back at home and I'm in studio...

Penrose Steps! Foam Core Model, heck yes!

Hey Boys and Girls!

So today at studio I created some "Fake" Penrose Steps!  From the top it is suppose to look like never ending steps, but like Inception, I will show that they are actually ending stairs.  Here is the foam core model!  After doing the model, I figured out the things that needed to be changed, etc.  So in the next couple days I hope to make a finalized foam model before making it into wood.  However, if my foam core model is good and works... I might just spray paint it black and use that as the actual... we'll see.  Anywho...here it is:

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Here is a cool youtube video that shows you how to draw the penrose steps:

And here is just a fun animation inspired by these steps: